The New York Times reported Wednesday night that President Obama will call for a national ban on conversion therapy this week, and boy do we need it. Just look at Colorado.
Colorado legislators were somehow able to legalize marijuana, and perhaps it is because they’re so blazed off their asses now that the state Senate voted down a bill that would ban gay conversion therapy on minors.
Did we say blazed? We meant Republican. Who would have thought?
The bill failed 3-2, with Veterans and Military Affairs Committee. Republican Sens. Ray Scott of Grand Junction, Jerry Sonnenberg of Sterling and Owen Hill of Colorado Springs voting to kill the bill.
How about we take this to the next level?
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Democratic Sens. Andy Kerr and Pat Steadman voted for the ban.
And besides the vote stinking to high hell, here’s the really gross part:
Hill sent an e-mail to his supporters explaining his ‘no’ vote, filled with such pearls of wisdom as: “I am hesitant to use the heavy hand of government to take away the dignity of choice in cases where individuals want this therapy.”
Choice?! How about the gay youth who have no choice but to submit to their parents’ will and be traumatized by the harmful practice?
Senate Democrats put out their own statement, expressing dismay over the outcome.
“Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee decided to allow the dangerous and widely discredited practice of conversion therapy to continue today, denying legislation that prohibits the practice on minors,” it says.
“Conversion therapy is nothing short of abusive. Not only is it ineffective, it harms children. It can cause depression, substance abuse problems, and even suicide,” added Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, the bill’s sponsor.
“Growing up is hard to do, and there are even more challenges when you are questioning your sexuality. We need to teach young people acceptance, not shame.”
via Denver Post
jwtraveler
NOW, Planned Parenthood and NARAL will be thrilled to discover that they have a pro-choice ally in Sen. Hill when reproductive rights are debated in the Colorado Senate.
Curty
It should be banned. Who knows what have happened to me if I came out at a young age, like before 18. My very religious who is still praying for me might have sent me some place
.. or had the whole church pray on me to “cure” me. That’s another thing parents can always seem counsel on this issue in church and “therapy” can take place there. One time my said the former pastor called out a lesbian in the church. Yikes.
Curty
Left out my mom’s church.
Sukhrajah
What is interesting here as well is that, considering the psychological damage inflicted upon the ‘recipients’ of said treatments, that State authorities are not indicting parents for child endangerment. Sure, some of the nation will follow the president’s example – however this can also be a bottom-up change. We need to protect the children. If Child Services can, and willingly does, separate children from physically abusive parents daily – mental and psychological abuse too should be regarded as dually treated as equally serious crimes against children.
Alexander R. Rodriguez
Anything that means personal liberty and parents choice is the enemy of the Statist Left. Never thought gays would want to be SLAVES to The State. The Gay Left wants 1984 and Animal Farm.
Giancarlo85
@Alexander R. Rodriguez: You are a liar and a delusional hypocrite. Those who want people to be slaves to the state are neofasc,ists like you. The gay left wants to end torture. Exgay therapy is torture. And parents choice? What about the choice of the victims? Religious liberty? What planet are you on?
You favor dictatorship. Take a civics class.
Realitycheck
@Alexander R. Rodriguez:
You don’t get to decide other people lives, like all christian zealots
you still haven’t got the noticed, you are NO longer the majority.
The american public stand against you.
onthemark
“Colorado legislators were somehow able to legalize marijuana,”
No, they didn’t. The voters did in a referendum.
A referendum might actually be appropriate in this case as well, since the tide has turned on anti-gay attitudes. Republicans tend to sneak into office in their Trojan horse of “fiscally sound” blather, but then spend all their time worrying about gays (and lady-parts, and how sometimes rape is a “gift from God” etc.). A referendum might be a neat way around this one.
jwtraveler
@onthemark: Good fact check!
I’m not a big fan of voter referenda. Sometimes they can have good results, but too often they are influenced by big money, ignorance and disinformation campaigns. Witness the recent referendum in Springfield, MO that repealed the city’s gay rights ordinance. And there was Proposition 8 in California that repealed gay marriage.
onthemark
@jwtraveler: Prop 8 could have been reversed with another referendum, which is exactly what happened in Maine a few years apart.
Referenda were intended as a huge reform back in the Progressive Era. It would be a mistake to get rid of them, although I’ll agree that some states (notably Calif.) have way too many of them or make it way too easy for obviously unconstitutional &/or ridiculous questions to get on the ballot.
Giancarlo85
No. They need to be curtailed immediately. All referenda should be approved by the legislature prior to being put on the ballot. It isn’t about having too many of them. Voters simply aren’t educated enough to make such important decisions, and Proposition 8 should have never been on the ballot in the first place. It would have never made it if the California Assembly was required to approve or decline it being in the ballot.
California has come a long way under Jerry Brown, but referendums need to be cut down immediately and reduced in their scope.
Jacob23
Dan Tracer, you are a real punk referring to gay youth, including 2 actual gay young men in the accompanying pic – as “queer” without their consent. You have no right to disrespect them or to appropriate their identities. If a gay youth wants to identify as “queer” he is free to do so. But that is their prerogative, not yours.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: It was easy for me to look up how to do that. But it doesn’t look easy to do. The only ways to change the state constitution to curtail amendments would be: (1) ironically, by proposition (would never pass); (2) by 2/3 vote of both houses of the legislature (very unlikely and the voters would hate it); (3) a 2/3 vote of the legislature to convene a whole new constitutional convention!
(None of the options need a governor’s involvement at all, since 2/3 is the requirement for a veto override, anyway.)
I assume you’d be horrified, & rightly so, at #3, but good luck with either #1 or 2.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: @jwtraveler: My more general points were that:
— Since 2004 I’ve seen so many sanctimonious comments in gay media about how “civil rights shouldn’t be voted on.” Well they ARE, Blanche, they ARE voted on! And if someone doesn’t like it they can get themselves appointed to the Supreme Court. But the tide has (mostly) turned on gay rights referenda, and going forward we’ll see a lot more public votes “for” than “against.” So we needn’t automatically fear referenda. Which is good because curtailing them or getting rid of them would be a politically impossible task!
— Aside from Queerty’s incorrect “fact” about CO, I resent Queerty’s smirky, cheap joke about marijuana legalization, which is an important civil rights issue. Please leave the adolescent “pot shots” to Fox News.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: The rules need to be revised. For example, with the amount of signatures required to get a proposition on the ballot. And to curtail special interest funding going to propositions. You like to defend this nonsense, but it’s been corrupted years ago. Referenda aren’t functioning the way they were intended to do so. And when you have some economic referenda on the ballot this gets even more dangerous.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: What rubbish. Marriage, employment rights, etc… should not be up for ballot to begin with. I don’t care if a majority is in favor. These are legal matters that should remain with the courts.
Giancarlo85
And yes, we should fear referenda. There are a lot of fucking stupid idiots out there that vote. Take a look at the 2014 midterms. We should not be going down that route.
And many referenda have been TOSSED out because they are unconstitutional.
Civil rights should NOT be voted on.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: So stop typing and do something IN REAL LIFE if it’s so important to you.
I’ve already said I agree with you that the number of signatures should be raised. In most referenda states, it’s more of a hurdle to get on the ballot than in CA.
“Marriage, employment rights, etc… should not be up for ballot to begin with.” Well they ARE, all the time, whether you like it or not. Stomp your feet all you want. The Supreme Court says it’s okay. Since you aced your citizenship test, you should know that. (That’s not a joke since (a) I realize you have no sense of humor, and (b) I don’t doubt that you actually DID ace your citizenship test!)
But why waste your time arguing with someone who lives in Massachusetts? Because it’s easy? Even if you were to convince me (you won’t), what would that accomplish? Do you want me to do something from here that you can’t do yourself? You’re the one who lives in CA so it’s up to you to do something.
jwtraveler
@onthemark: The tide may be turning, but I still don’t think voter referenda are a good idea. Most of the American public is far too ignorant, uninformed and brainwashed by FOX news and religious fundamentalists to make intelligent decisions. The majority of Americans would vote AGAINST basic Constitutional rights if given the chance. What we need in this country is an overhaul of the electoral system to eliminate the influence of money on elections, and public information campaigns to educate the public about the function of government and their role in it. Only then will we have legislatures that truly act in the best interest of “The People” and not wealthy corporations and special interests.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: You haven’t said anything and you aren’t addressing anything I have said. Referenda should be tossed out in their entirety. We live in a representative republic. Not a direct democracy. Some of those propositions passed are dangerous.
And no they shouldn’t be. This isn’t about whether something is, but rather about whether it should be. The Supreme Court has tossed out dozens of amendments voted on by the voters (so much for that crap about people voting on everything). But here is a tid bit for you… this isn’t a democracy. It’s a republic. And thanks for the insults. You don’t know shit about government. Please go back and take a basic level civics class.
Why don’t you do something? You’re arguing with me. You’re nothing more than an ignorant idiot insulting me whenever you get a chance. There have already been several ideas pushed to increase the number of signatures and make it a lot more difficult to get propositions on the ballot.
“That’s not a joke since (a) I realize you have no sense of humor, and (b) I don’t doubt that you actually DID ace your citizenship test!”
Maybe you should grow up before you address me and attack my background, you rambunctious piece of shit.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: And secondly, you don’t have the slightest clue about what’s going on in California. You’re rambling like a hyperactive moron on steroids.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: Referenda have been settled law for over a century. They were a REFORM in states with corrupt legislatures – which, a century ago, was just about all of them. Now every state has referenda (though not every state has voters initiating them).
If someone wants to declare, well, this “shouldn’t” be happening, the voters aren’t informed enough, etc. – your opinion and $5 will get you a cup of Starbucks coffee.
FYI I have relatives in CA, I go there often, I lived in CA for a long time (albeit before you were born) and I’m familiar with how its government works. I agree with you that things are much better lately. But for instance, currently the CA legislators (good as they in general) are mostly in the pocket of the corrupt, r@cist police, which is why yet another referendum to legalize marijuana is necessary. Oh right, it’s your personal opinion that it “shouldn’t” be legalized! That’s too bad; prepare yourself to be unhappy next year. But I guess I needn’t worry about you actually doing anything against it, since you think “activism” consists of typing a lot.
There’s no point in someone declaring – to a all-gay audience – that he thinks referenda “shouldn’t” be a feature of the political system. Well, they are. And in most states they work just fine, and I like mine just fine. If you don’t like the referendum procedure in your OWN state, feel free to do something about it in real life, nobody is stopping you.
@jwtraveler: Sure, they’re sometimes struck down as unconstitutional. (So are laws the legislators actually pass, of course!) But that’s a reason not to hyperventilate quite so much about them. For instance the AG of CA is now working to keep that “execute the gays” one off the ballot. Not that it would ever pass, but good, that’s a little too much crazy even for CA lol.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: And secondly, I don’t get why you’re always such a nasty b*tch here. I wasn’t insulting your “background”; I was sincerely complimenting it.
I’m not insulting you; you’re the one insulting me – AS ALWAYS. And for what, when we at least 90-95% agree? I’m a lefty (in fact I’m arguably MORE of a lefty than you are since you’re on the side of the fascist r@cist cops on the marijuana issue). Is it just easier for you to type a lot and go around insulting other gay people who 90-95% agree with you? Please save your wrath for the LCR types here.
onthemark
@jwtraveler: We’ve gotten somewhat off-topic! – but my original objection was to Queerty’s offensive pot joke, which aside from being juvenile, was factually incorrect.
Of course, it’s silly to “joke” about the Republicans in the state legislature being stoned, since they were almost all against the marijuana referendum succeeding. But so was the Democratic governor, who moonlights as a commercial beer brewer (! – ha). There was plenty of chicanery and hypocrisy to go around, and I’m glad the voters told them all to go f*ck themselves.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: You’re so stupidly ignorant. I don’t even know where to start. Referenda are often overruled and thrown out (and often by the same Supreme Court you talk about). Referenda are more easily corrupted than the legislatures. The whole attempt of reform backfired catastrophically.
I am here posting my opinion. That is all I am doing. You have to talk down to my opinions because you don’t like what you’re hearing. That’s fine. I don’t care about your stupid and misinformed opinions either.
Your statements about CA legislators is also a hilarious one. That was true 20 years ago, but not the case anymore. As far as marijuana legalization, that has been derailed in this state by no other than Jerry Brown.
“But I guess I needn’t worry about you actually doing anything against it, since you think “activism” consists of typing a lot. ”
You’re an idiot who types a lot more than me. Since when did I say all I did was type on here? LOL. I’ve worked on political campaigns and to help vote “NO” on certain amendments. I would rather those amendments not be on the ballot as the whole process has been corrupted.
Rambunctious, stupid, naive and ignorant… that describes you quite well. Next time, ask what I have done instead of making shit up. It is easy for you to sit on your chair and post a lot of garbage (like you have been doing) and demanding I do something about it.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: You’ve insulted me quite a few times and say I’m not doing anything. Do you know me? Do you know what I have done? I’ve helped in quite a few election campaigns and campaigns regarding certain ballot initatives. One recent election campaign I’ve done canvassing for is a local race in District 4 (For LA City Council).
You’re a right wing douchebag… or at least you use the same kind of logic as one. As far as you being in favor of marijuana legalization… oh wow… so is Ron Paul and right wing libertarians. I think I pinpointed what you are… a right wing libertarian. Some of the worst kind of right wingers. So you can’t fucking say you’re a “lefty”. By the way, kid… you are RIGHT WING by my standards.
You’re an American, you subscribe to American politics, and ALL American politics is RIGHT WING compared to the rest of the world. In Europe, even a fucking conservative party is more left wing then your democrats!
Giancarlo85
BTW, Marijuana legalization isn’t all the rave. Even Holland is backtracking on that and scaling back legalization.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/07/dutch-marijuana-laws-us-states_n_4918305.html
They are already removing many vendors who sell it. And setting up more rules and restrictions.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: I like the referendum system in my state just fine.
“Next time, ask what I have done instead of making shit up.”
Okay – since you’re so apoplectic about it, what have you DONE about getting rid of referenda, entirely, in your state?
See above for the only 3 ways to go about it.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: Portugal isn’t.
You really should look into it before you have a heart attack at 35.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: What have you done to do… anything to help anything in the political process?
You’re a vindictive idiot. I don’t even know why I try.
Portugal is. I know more than you about Europe. You’re just too much of a clueless idiot to see that.
Giancarlo85
sorry, offthemark… we agree in about 5% of issues, not 90-95%. You don’t know me. I am far more left wing than you think. You are an American. You are right wing no matter what political party you stand with.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: I was referring to Portugal legalizing everything up to and including heroin, putting money into addiction treatment, saving money overall, and being quite content with the results. Even the former top “drug cop” is content with the results and admits he was wrong.
Prohibition does not work. But I realize that when we Americans get rid of Prohibition, probably the entire economy of Colombia will collapse. Perhaps that’s what is upsetting you.
@Giancarlo85: In real life I work mostly on transit and environmental issues, and occasionally on anti-Prohibition issues.
How am I being “vindictive” here? I’m being polite while you’re being a nasty pr!ck.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: Portugal’s legalization has been an abject failure and is already being scaled back.
Legalization does not work.
By the way, Colombia isnt’ dependent on drugs. But thanks for showing how much of a ra*c*st xenophobic shit bag you are. You’re just like Savage. A libertarian. And secondly, we have been clamping down and getting rid of drug crops. We don’t need them.
You’re a fucking asshole. In every respect. You’re not being polite. You just insulted my country with a typical stupid stereotype. Fuck you.
Giancarlo85
You’re such a blithering idiot. You work mostly on “transit and environmental issues”? Do you do any research about other countries? You made several stupid statements about Portugal and Colombia. Have anymore you want to make? Drug legalization does not work.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: Re: Colombia, I was making a joke. Sorry I forgot you have no sense of humor! But now I’m wondering why did you emigrate here? You hate Americans and you sure don’t seem to like it here very much.
“And secondly, we have been clamping down and getting rid of drug crops.” Oh yes, slaves doing the bidding of their American masters, while making their country an environmental mess. GOT IT.
Prohibition is always, always, always a disaster creating far more problems than it “solves.”
Portugal’s drug legalization has been a great success. You obviously know nothing about it.
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: Where did I say I hate Americans? I’m just stating most Americans don’t realize how right wing they are. And how right wing BOTH of their main political parties are. Ralph Nader was perhaps the last guy who could even be considered a centrist… and he didn’t have much sway outside of the 2000 Election.
“Oh yes, slaves doing the bidding of their American masters, while making their country an environmental mess. ”
Spoken like a true ignorant idiot. You have no clue about anything.
“Portugal’s drug legalization has been a great success. You obviously know nothing about it.”
Wrong. It has not been a great success (and I’m not going to take your word on it because you’re a fucking ignorant dumbass.
Have fun living in fantasy, r*a*c*ist xenophobe.
You hate anyone that doesn’t think your way and comes from a different country. Just like your little hero Savage. Offthemark again!
Giancarlo85
Drugs are the problem in Colombia. Not the war to get rid of rebels. Drugs and rebels wrecked the economy for years, and by clamping down and getting rid of them… we’ve improved chances for other sectors of our economy to improve… and that is exactly what has happened.
If you think drug legalization would help solve problems, you’re wrong. Colombia actually tried legalization and that failed miserably!
Drugs have damaged our economy signifcantly. Period. If you say anything else, you’re an ignorant dumbass who subscribes to conspiracy theories.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: I realize now you are seriously mentally ill. I hope you’re able to get some help for it.
Or maybe it’s as simple as extreme Vitamin D deficiency. Since, despite living in California, you apparently never go outside?
I’m glad your boss is so patient with you. I sincerely hope you don’t get fired for spending all your “work” time typing on political sites. If you got fired you would be (a) on unemployment and (b) posting here 18/7 instead of 12/7 like you are already.
You’re the most ungrateful immigrant since the Tsarnaev brothers. What a relief that you’ve made a lot of anti-gun statements here. (Which btw I totally agree with. IMHO the Second Amendment should be repealed.) At least we can rest assured you won’t go on a shooting spree in L.A. Of course, California is a barbaric state that still has the death penalty, so I fear the worst.
Why immigration let you in at all is quite a mystery. Back in the days of Ellis Island and Angel Island, you’d have been locked up in the psych ward for a few weeks… before they sent you back. Oh well, now we’re stuck with you so I hope you get some help. If only you could just pay for our Social Security, like the “undocumented” Mexicans do, and keep quiet about politics.
Medical marijuana would definitely help you with your psychological problems. Too bad you’re so scared of it!
Giancarlo85
@onthemark: The only one mentally ill here is you. You need to be immediately hospitalized. You are not capable in creating a coherent argument.
You are possibly mentally deficient too. That is an unfortunate cnodition. Vitamin D deficiency? I go outside more than you! You post here all the fucking time! A lot more than me!
Fired? I post when I AM HOME and ONLY WHEN I AM HOME. I don’t even post on my cell phone anymore because that’s a pain in the ass and sometimes it says “I’m posting too fast” when I have barely made one post. I am not fired, I amn ot unemployment, and I’m not posting 18/7. That would be you. You seem to provide timely replies to everything immediately.
Giancarlo85
You are a sick demented freak with possible aspergers. You’re a moron with a big mouth and you think you know everything about everything. You don’t really know anything and the sad part is you fool yourself into thinking you’re intelligent. You are nothing more than a raving lunatic in every sense of the word.
I am a US Citizen by the way. I went through the process for that. You sick xenophobic piece of shit. I hope you get deported even if you are a US Citizen. This country would be better off without you. They should deport you to Zimbabwe or Uganda. Probably Uganda.
Marijuana is for slow useless people like you. And I can’t use it because they drug test me at work. My workplace is drug free and is fast paced. That wouldn’t work for a mentally challenged pothead like yourself.
Giancarlo85
Oh… and go ahead and reply to me. I’m done talking to you under this article.
You seriously need some help for your problems. I can’t believe you tried to make a judgment on me. You sound like a right wing Christian fanatic. Anyways, good luck dude… you’re going to need it in your miserable life.
onthemark
@Giancarlo85: “You post here all the fucking time! A lot more than me!”
If you really believe that, you really ARE nuts.
and – flagged, flagged, flagged.
Giancarlo85
As I suspected, this nutcase offthemark requires the last word… So sad he is so pathetic. Have fun with him guys!